The Occom Circle

Samson Occom, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1764 August 22

Manuscript Number764472

Date22 August 1764

Author

Recipient

AbstractOccom reports on his activities and on progress in the building of his house. He also notes that he’s been paid a half-year's salary by the Company for Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the parts adjacent in America. On two verso, Wheelock has written an outline for a sermon.

Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1768 September 24

Manuscript Number768524.1

Date24 September 1768

Author

Recipient

AbstractJohnson relates the progress of his and Jacob Johnson's travels, and relays news of donations for the school.

Ebenezer Gurley, confession, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1770 February 3

Manuscript Number770153.1

Date3 February 1770

Author

Recipient

AbstractGurley confesses that he tried to leave the school for Yale.

Joseph Fish, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1771 January 30. John Shattock, letter, to Joseph Fish, 1770 December 30. Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Alexander Moubray, 1771 October 15.

Manuscript Number771130

Date30 January 1771

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Recipients; ;

AbstractMulti-sectioned letter: Fish, writing to Wheelock, encloses a copy of a letter written by Shattock about his son John’s death, and asks Wheelock to pass on the news to people in Scotland and England. Wheelock writes to Alexander Moubray in Edinburgh.

David Avery, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1771 June 6

Manuscript Number771356

Date6 June 1771

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Recipient

AbstractAvery writes about his upcoming ordination and possible mission. He relates news of Occom and David Fowler, with brief excerpts of a letter from Fowler.

Samson Occom, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1772 January 27

Manuscript Number772127.1

Date27 January 1772

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Recipient

AbstractOccom updates Wheelock on his travels. He notes that he hopes to visit as soon as he can make longer trips, and to attend Indian congresses at Stockbridge and at Sir William Johnson’s.

John Thornton, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1772 February 28

Manuscript Number772178

Date28 February 1772

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Recipient

AbstractThornton writes a lengthy letter mentioning the conflict with Kirkland, doubt that the Trust in England will confirm Wheelock's charter, and rumors that the college is to come under Episcopal management. He believes that Wheelock is too trusting of Ralph Wheelock, and that Occom has been unfairly treated.

David McClure, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1772 June 30

Manuscript Number772380

Date30 June 1772

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Recipient

AbstractMcClure writes that he has asked Occom to join the mission, but that Occom states he is in ill health, has too many debts, and that he has been neglected since his return from Great Britain. McClure urges Wheelock to be generous with Occom.

Daniel Simon, Daniel Babitt, Benjamin Burt, and Peter Pauquunnuppeet, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1773 February 16

Manuscript Number773166

Date16 February 1773

Authors; ; ;

Recipient

AbstractSimon, Babitt, Burt and Pauquunnuppeet write to complain that the Indians who live next to them make so much noise they are unable to study.

Abraham Simon, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1774 October 17

Manuscript Number774567.2

Date17 October 1774

Author

Recipient

AbstractSimon writes to say that he must keep school to earn money. He promises to repay a past debt to Wheelock as soon as possible and asks for a recommendation, and for help in obtaining money from the sale of his house, which has been purchased by Jacob Fowler. He requests that Wheelock not inform anyone of his whereabouts.